Keys of Scientific Research Course: Lecture (13) Google Scholars Part (1)

Introduction to Google Research Tools

Overview of the Session

• The session begins with a greeting and an introduction to the topic of Google as a primary search engine for research purposes.

• The speaker, Abdullah Al-Wakeel, emphasizes the importance of utilizing Google for accessing various research papers in both Arabic and English.

Understanding Google Scholar

• Discussion on Google Scholar as a vital tool for academic research, highlighting its role in providing access to specialized research articles.

• The speaker plans to cover how to find relevant literature, download papers, and track advancements in specific fields through this platform.

Navigating Google Search

Accessing Research Papers

• Instructions on how to access Google Scholar directly from the standard Google homepage are provided. The significance of starting early in scientific research is also mentioned.

• Historical context is given about the launch of open-access publishing since 2004, which has made it easier for researchers to find available studies.

Conducting Effective Searches

• Emphasis on formulating effective search queries using keywords related to specific topics or questions within one's field of interest. Examples include searching for cancer-related applications in nanotechnology.

• Explanation of how keyword searches work within Google's algorithm and tips on using quotation marks for precise results are discussed. This technique helps narrow down search results significantly from hundreds of thousands to more manageable numbers based on exact phrases used in titles or abstracts.

Analyzing Search Results

Interpreting Findings

• After conducting a search, users can view numerous relevant studies along with their publication details such as authorship and year published (e.g., 2021). Each entry includes links that allow users to access full texts or citations easily.

• Insights into citation counts are shared; understanding how often a paper has been cited can indicate its impact within the academic community (e.g., one study being cited 174 times). This metric can guide researchers toward influential works in their area of study.

Advanced Search Techniques

Exploring Research Topics in Cancer Treatment

Understanding the Importance of Research Topic Selection

• The speaker emphasizes the significance of determining whether a research topic is new or established, highlighting the need for extensive literature review to understand its relevance.

• A search using specific keywords yielded 127,000 results, indicating a broad interest in the field. The speaker suggests refining searches to focus on particular materials like carbon.

Narrowing Down Research Focus

• By selecting carbon as a material related to cancer treatment, the number of relevant studies decreased significantly to 1,500, demonstrating how specificity can streamline research efforts.

• Further narrowing down to specific types of calcium used in cancer treatment revealed only 78 published studies, suggesting that this area may be less explored.

Evaluating Recent Research Trends

• The speaker notes that only 25 studies focused on modified materials were found, with just four published in recent years (2022), indicating limited ongoing research in this niche.

• This scarcity presents an opportunity for researchers to delve into these topics and potentially contribute new insights or innovations.

Next Steps for Researchers